Ottawa explains why surprise fireworks were not announced

The City of Ottawa says it did not warn residents before a latenight fireworks display on Thursday because officials believed public notice could have created safety concerns. The roughly 12minute show was the Canada Day fireworks that had been cancelled because of severe weather and later used as part of Ottawa Bluesfest near LeBreton Flats. Videos of the unexpected display quickly spread online, and many residents questioned the lack of advance notice. City officials said the decision was made with input from police, emergency services, public health, and other departments. They said a public announcement could have brought extra crowds to the area around an already busy festival site, while federal officials said the fireworks were already prepared and disarming them would have posed risks to the crew. The city said it received 38 complaints and will review public feedback after the event.